Straightening press



May 23, 1933. p CQYLE 1,911,108

STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Jan. 30 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT May 23, 1933. CQYLE I 1,911,108

STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Jan. :50, 1930 4 Shts-SheeL 2 INVENTOR y 1933. P. L. COY LE I STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Jan. 30, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I I I I I l INVENTOR May 23, 1933. P; oYL-E 1,911,108

I STRAIGHTENINQ PRESS Filed Jan. 30, 1930 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I l :L ;1

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL L. OOYLE, 0F CORAOI OLIS, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY STRAIGHTENING 'rREss Application filed January 30, 1930. Serial No. 424,586.

My invention relates to a press for straightening forged articles that have been slightly deformed during the process of manufacturing. The following description of the invention will refer to the straightening of front axle forgings for motor cars al-.

though the invention is not limited thereto since it has numerous other applications.

According to one method of manufacturing front axles for motor cars, a plurality of blanks are die-rolled from a leader as ex- I provide a straightening press which is adapted to give a forged article its final shaping treatment, after which the various parts thereof are disposed in proper relation so that machine operations may be satisfactorily carried on. The straightening treatment is completed in one operation and all .portions of the. axle are operated upon so that each portion has the proper alignment with all other portions. The press is easily controlled by a single operator and the straightening operation can thus be carried out in a very short time with a minimum of manual labor.

inserts in the form of dies for engaging different portions of the forging. For a complete understanding of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a present preferred embodiment of the invention but are not intended to limit the invention to any specific form, since it may be practiced by embodiments other than that illustrated.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the press.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional vieW along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line VV of Figure 3. I

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional View along the line VIIVII of Figure 3, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a partial section showing a detail.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the press comprises a frame 10 mounted on a foundation 11. A table 12 is formed integral with the frame and is adapted for supporting anvil blocks 13 and 14.

Above the table 12, guideways 15 are ma-' chined on the frame. A cross head 16 engages the guideways 15 and is adapted to move reciprocably therein. The cross head 16 carries a plurality of spring-pressed plungers 17 which will be described in detail hereinafter. These plungers are provided with plunger cups for engaging the various portions of a forged article, such as a front axle for a motor car, supported on the anvil blocks 13 and 14.

The cross head 16 is actuated by pitmen 18, driving'gears 19, a motor 20, connecting gearing 21 and shafting 22 and 27. This construction is usual in presses of the type utilized to carry out the invention.

A control shaft 30 is provided with a verrality of inserts.

tically adjustable lever 32 to facilitate the control of the motor 20. The control mechanism for the motor 20 which is actuated by the shaft 30 is well known and is therefore not described further.

The details of the anvil blocks 13 and 14 and spring pressed plungers 17 are clearly illustrated in Figures 3 through 8. The blocks 13 consist of base portions 35 and an insert 36. The base portions 35 are bolted to the table 12. The insert 36 is secured to the base 35 by set screws 37. Insert 36 is formed to receive the end of a front axle forging to support it during the straightening operation.

The anvil block 14 is similar to the block 13 except that it is adapted to support a plu- The block 14 has a base 38' which carries inserts 39, 40, 41 and 42 all of which are secured to the base by means of set screws similar to those shown at 37 The shape of the inserts 46, 41 and 42 may be observed in Figures 4, 5, and 6. As will be apparent, these inserts are designed to fit the shape of the various portions of the forging being straightened. The jaws of the inserts are tapering so as to gradually aline the axles as they are pressed into the inserts. The deformation resulting from forging will thus not prevent the proper entry of the axles into the forming dies or inserts.

The plungers 17 are bolted to the cross head 16 and consist principally of a plunger sleeve- 43,,a plunger shaft 44, a spring 45 and a cup 46. The upper end of the sleeve 43 is squared as shown in Figure 9, and a plunger plate 47 is provided with a square opening for receiving the end of the sleeve. Figure 9 is a partial section of one of the plungers taken at an angle of 45 from that shown in Figure A clamping .plate 48 has a circular opening therein and is posi tioned on the cylindrical portion of the sleeve 43 so that it engages the overhanging corners of the squared portion of the latter. Clamping bolts 49 secure the plates 47 and 48 and the sleeve 43 to the cross head 16 The plunger shaft 44 slides within the lower reduced portion of the sleeve 43 and has a head 50 to limit its downward movement. The exterior of the lower portion of the sleeve 43 is threaded and carries an adjusting nut 51 and a lock nut 52. v

The plunger cup 46 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 44 by means of a pin 52'. The spring 45 rests on top of the cup 46 and engages a spring washer 53 bearing against the lower face of the adjusting nut 51. A cylindrical" spring sleeve 54 surrounds the plunger shaft 44 within the spring 45.

All the plungers 17 are identical except in the design of the plunger "cup 46 whichis suoh7'irr each case, as to exert the desired forming effect upon the particular portion of the forged article engaged thereby. The

shape ofthe various plunger cups may be observed in Figures 4, 6 and 7. The depth of the cup depends upon the angular position of the portion of the axle engaged thereby while its surface is shaped to conform to that of the axle. It will be noted that the inserts 39 and 41 have no plunger shafts above them. These inserts are provided merely to effect a lateral straightening of the axle, whereas the inserts 40, 42 and 36 effect the desired transverse straightening of the axles.

The operation of the press will be obvious from the foregoing description. When the axles come from the draw furnace they are placed on the anvil blocks. The motor 20 is then started to bring the cross head and its plungers down upon the axle. The latter is then forced between the inserts on the various anvil blocks and is thus straightened laterally. The downward pressure of the plungers straightens the axle transversely and gives it the desired finish form. When the cross head is raised, the axle is removed from the press and is ready for final inspection, after which it may be machined as desired. It is found that substantially every axle straightened in the press passes the checking table tests satisfactorily.

It will be apparent that the method and apparatus for straightening forged articles described herein is a marked improvement over the manual method formerly used. As previously pointed out, the operation is very rapid and requires but a small amount of manual labor. In addition it effects an accurate straightening of the portions of the shaft which have been slightly deformed during the forging operation.

Although I have described but a single present preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not intend to be limited thereto since any change in the structure disclosed which follows in the spirit of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a forming press, the combination with a vertically reciprocable head, a table therebelow having anvil blocks of different heights adjustably mounted thereon, and grooved inserts in said blocks for receiving portions of a forging to aline them, of a plurality of spring-pressed plungers secured to said head having concave plunger cups of different dimensions for engaging an irregular forging supported on said inserts and pressing it into shape. l

2. A forming press for irregular forgings, comprising a head movable vertically, a table therebelow, anvil blocks adjustably mounted on said table for receiving a forging, recessed inserts in the blocks for receiving and alining portions of the forging, and spring-pressed plungers mounted on said head having concave plunger cups for engaging a forging held in said inserts.

3. In a press, a head, a plunger on said head comprising a cylindrical plunger sleeve having a squared end, plates for receiving the sleeve and its squared end and means for securin said plates to said head, a plunger shaft s idable in said sleeve, a cup at the end of the shaft, a spring on said shaft between said sleeve and cup and an adjusting nut on said sleeve.

4. A forging press comprising a head, a

table, anvil blocks adjustably secured to said table, a plurality of plungers on said head for cooperating with said blocks, each of' said plungers including aplunger sleeve having a squared end and a threaded end, a

clamping plate on said sleeve at the squared end, and an adjusting nut on the threaded end, means for securing the plate to said head, a plunger shaft slidable within said sleeve, a plunger cup secured to said shaft and a spring on said shaft engaging said cup and said nut whereby the pressure exerted by the cup when the head is lowered may be varied.

5. A press for front axle forgings comprising a table, adjustable anvil blocks thereon for engaging a forging along'its mid-portion and at its end portions, a reciproeable head, plungers thereon for cooperating with said blocks to press the forging into shape, said plungers including a sleeve, means for securing said sleeve to said head, a plunger shaft in said sleeve, a spring on said shaft and adjusting means for the spring on said sleeve.

6. A press for stralghtening front axle forgings comprising a frame, a head reciprocable therein, a table having recessed anvil blocks thereon, adapted to partake of lateral adjustment for receiving and shaping a forging, and plungers on said head for engaging the forging, said plungers including a sleeve secured to the head, a shaft in the sleeve and a spring for urging the shaft against the forg1ng.

7. A straightening press including a table,

a head, anvil blocks on the table with shaping recesses therein, laterally adjustable plungers retractably mounted in said head and means for reciprocating said head to cause the plungers to engage a forging supported on said blocks and force it into said recesses.

In testimony my hand.

.PAUL L. COYLE.

whereof I have hereunto set 

